Resandebehov

Resandebehov is a Norwegian term used in transport planning to denote the needs and demands of travelers within a transport system. The word combines resande, traveler or passenger, with behov, needs. In practice, resandebehov encompasses what travelers require to make trips feasible and satisfactory, including availability of routes, travel times, reliability, affordability, accessibility, safety, and comfort.

Scope and usage: Planners use the concept to describe both individual needs and aggregate demand for transport. It covers work commuting, education, shopping, leisure trips, and trips by people with disabilities. The concept underlines that transport solutions must accommodate diverse travel patterns and constraints.

Measurement: Data sources include travel surveys, origin-destination matrices, ticketing data, and mobility apps. Methods include demand modeling, segmentation by mode, age, income, and accessibility needs, and scenario analysis to assess how changes in price, service level, or infrastructure affect travel behavior.

Policy and planning: By focusing on resandebehov, authorities aim to improve accessibility, promote public transport, and reduce car dependence. Projects may involve increasing service frequency, extending routes, improving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and implementing inclusive design at stops and stations.

Criticism and challenges: Measuring needs versus observed trips, capturing informal or spontaneous trips, and ensuring data privacy can complicate the assessment. The term is not uniformly used in all contexts, and some analysts prefer terms like travel demand or traveler needs.

See also: Travel demand, transportation planning, accessibility, mobility as a service.